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Adam Epstein, Tony-winning producer, dies at 49. Brother says he packed in 100 years of living

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Adam Epstein, Tony-winning producer, dies at 49. Brother says he packed in 100 years of living

As a follower of Adam Epstein‘s extraordinary journey, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration and sorrow. Despite his untimely departure at 49, he managed to cram an astounding amount of life into those years. His spirit was infectious, his positivity unmatched, and his accomplishments nothing short of remarkable.

Adam Epstein, a Tony Award-winning producer who helped bring “Hairspray” to Broadway, has died.

On Tuesday morning, Epstein passed away at Adventist Health hospital in Glendale, following several months of fighting a brain tumor. His younger brother, Brett Epstein, verified the news to The Times. Epstein was 49 years old.

“Brett Epstein said he was like someone who packed a century’s worth of living into just 49 years. He had an aura of being wise beyond his time and an unshakeable, perhaps overly optimistic viewpoint about everything. I believe that was his unique talent.”

On Facebook, Brett Epstein expressed his grief over losing his brother, stating in a recent post, “I find it hard to conceive of a life where he is not part of it.”

Born and raised in Miami, Epstein – a graduate from New York University and Brown University – commenced his career on Broadway in the late ’90s. Throughout his illustrious career, he produced numerous shows, but it was his work on the Tony-winning adaptation of John Waters’ 1988 film “Hairspray” that truly set him apart. This musical premiered in Seattle in 2002 before making its Broadway debut later that year. In total, “Hairspray” received 13 nominations for the 2003 Tony Awards and took home eight awards, including the prestigious prize for Best Musical.

Over a period ending in 2009, “Hairspray” was staged an impressive 2,600 times, as stated by The Hollywood Reporter, and furthermore, it led to a movie version released in 2007.

Alex’s career on Broadway extended beyond just musicals based on plays; it encompassed adaptations of films like “Cry-Baby,” which was based on John Waters’ 1990 movie, and “The Wedding Singer,” derived from the Adam Sandler comedy. Apart from these, he also produced “The Life,” “A View From the Bridge,” and “Amadeus.” His productions amassed a total of 12 Tony Awards and 46 nominations, as reported by Playbill.

Following his stint on Broadway, Adam Epstein decided to focus on political commentary. In July 2020, he established a YouTube channel titled “The Dispatch With Adam Epstein.” By August 2021, he had also started his “Dirty Moderate” podcast, which aimed to foster thoughtful discussions and debates among people from different political viewpoints.

On August 8th, the newest episode of “Dirty Moderate” aired, with the guest being the former Missouri Secretary of State, Jason Kander. Previously, in May, Epstein made an appearance on Michael Steele’s podcast. Michael Steele is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a political analyst for MSNBC.

Brett Epstein told The Times his brother “was just about to break through in a whole new career.”

Born on the 7th of September, 1974, I, Adam Keith Epstein, leave behind a loving family that includes my brother, parents, sister, sister-in-law, three nieces, and one nephew. A heartfelt farewell ceremony will be held in my hometown, Florida, later this week.

His family requests donations to the UCLA Brain Cancer Research Center.

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2024-08-16 03:01

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